The 4 Best VPNs for Cuba in 2022

Are you looking to Skype in Cuba? You’re out of luck because the app is blocked. So are PayPal, the Apple Store, Google Play Store and international banks. News media websites, sites that discuss human rights issues, circumvention tools like VPN and TOR and any websites that criticize the political system are inaccessible. You can get around these restrictions if you look for the best VPN for Cuba. Read on to learn how to connect to any website at any time.

Cuba is home to many great things, including some of the most popular revolutionaries of recent decades. It gives us the world’s best cigars, warm and beautiful beaches and it’s a scenic country with earnest and friendly people.

It also has one of the most educated populations in the Americas and has produced more medics than most countries in the world.

Despite these achievements, the country remains one of the most restricted when it comes to internet access. The government restricts freedom of information, and for many years most of the population has been offline.

Although internet restrictions have been eased somewhat in recent times, accessing certain types of information on the internet can get you into trouble with authorities. Some sites, like Facebook and Twitter, are now accessible but that doesn’t mean you can express opinions freely.

If you live in or are traveling to the island, your best bet is a VPN for Cuba. It will help you connect to any site without the fear of reprisals, snoops or restrictions.

This post is all about the best VPN in Cuba; why you should use one, how to install and get it to work, and how to choose one that works. We’ll also tell you about our recommended VPNs for this country.

A Brief History of Censorship in Cuba

According to a 2016 report by Amnesty International, “Until 2008, the government banned ownership of computer and DVD equipment in Cuba. Today only 25 per cent of Cubans use the internet, while only five per cent of homes are connected. Internet access is still prohibitively expensive for most, and far from accessible to all. Cuba has said it will double access in the next five years, with public Wi-Fi hot spots starting to open since March 2015, but it remains the most disconnected country in the Americas.”

By 2016, only 25% of Cubans could use the internet and only 5% of homes were connected.

Because of these restrictions, Cubans became savvy about overcoming online restrictions. They used underground Wi-Fi, USBs and they even created their own apps to facilitate online access.

Cuba first connected to the internet in 1996. However, almost immediately its expansion stagnated because of government restrictions and a lack of funds. The US embargo made access to the necessary equipment to grow the network difficult (think cables, computers, modems).

In 2007 things started to improve, but rather slowly.

In 2015, the government established 35 public Wi-Fi hotspots, slashed prices for internet access, and increased speeds. A year later, nearly 4.5 million people were active internet users.

However, they could only access the net from public locations like libraries, colleges, universities, schools and cyber cafes. Internet traffic from these hubs was heavily monitored, and political activists especially had to be careful what they did online.

The government rolled out 3G connectivity across the island in 2018 but communication remained heavily monitored and more expensive than most Cubans could afford.

As of 2019, 7.1 million islanders had access to the internet and the price of the connectivity started to drop.

That same year, the country legalized the use of private Wi-Fi in homes and businesses but users needed permits to install it.

In 2021, all salaries in Cuba increased at least 5-fold although the price to connect to the internet hasn’t decreased by much. Today, the country has about 7.7 million active users.

Why Use a VPN in Cuba?

Frequent travelers to the country will tell you that they never get into Cuba without a VPN. Cubans themselves have become skilled at circumventing blocks, but there are many restrictions that they aren’t able to overcome with basic technology.

A VPN is the best way to connect because it is a low-cost and effective way to use the internet anonymously.

For Cubans, is investing in VPN services worth it?

Here are some of the reasons why the use of virtual private networks has grown steadily in this country:

• They unlock restricted content – VPNs give unfettered access to the internet. Although the country has relaxed some of the tighter restrictions, there are still many things you can’t do online. A VPN allows you to connect to any website you want.

• They never have to worry about government snoops – Many Cubans have ended up in jail for saying the wrong things online. Even the use of certain phrases is prohibited. When Fidel Castro died, for example, it was forbidden to say it online, so people communicated the news in coded language. A VPN encrypts all data to and from your devices and no one can see what you’re doing online.

• Users can stream from anywhere in the world – It is difficult to get good, current entertainment in Cuba. Platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime are out of the question. Citizens often resort to piracy, using USB sticks to share their favorite shows, movies and music. A VPN gives access not just to Netflix and Amazon Prime, but to thousands of streaming websites across the world. It opens up a whole world of entertainment options.

• They allow access to vital services – The best VPNs for Cuba provide access to important services like PayPal and international banks. This is especially important for businesses, foreign workers and students and visitors to the country.

• Cubans can open restricted apps – You can bypass restrictions on apps with a VPN. Many apps that we take for granted in other countries are restricted in Cuba and you can only access them if you have a virtual private network.

• They can avoid hackers – A VPN gives you security. This is a little different from privacy, which is when you’re trying to avoid online snoops. Privacy is all about hiding your online activities from hackers.

• VPNs help avoid ISP throttling – Cuba is known for slow internet speeds, and they can be even slower if you undertake high bandwidth activities like streaming or gaming. A VPN hides your activity, and since the ISP cannot see what you’re doing it cannot slow your internet speed or cap your bandwidth.

How to Use a VPN in Cuba

1. Look for the best VPN for Cuba – there are many VPNs in the market, but not all work for countries that have serious restrictions like Cuba. Look for one that others are successfully using on the island. The ones discussed in this post all work quite well.

2. Buy and download the VPN – this is where you may run into problems because VPN sites are restricted in Cuba. You can use an app like Psiphon which is completely free and which gives access to restricted websites. However, remember that it is not recommended for long-term use, and there are many things a VPN can do that Psiphon cannot. You can read more about Psiphon here…

3. Install the VPN and log in and then choose a server to connect through. Ideally, it should be located in the target country. If you want to access PayPal, for example, you should choose a server in the United States for easier access. If you’d like to watch BBC iPlayer, choose a server in the UK.

Note 1: If you are outside Cuba, you should download and install a VPN before you arrive; it makes things much easier.

Note 2: If you have someone outside Cuba who can buy a VPN for you, ask them to do that and send you the link and log-in credentials through a secure messaging app. Then all you have to do is download and install the software.

The 4 Best VPNs for Cuba

Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for Cuba as it meets several important criteria: it is cheap, it offers unlimited simultaneous connections and it has a friendly UI, making it easy to install and use.

The company has a wide server network allowing you to connect to and from most parts of the world.

It is also fast, and you can stream shows and movies as well as play games without lags. The VPN works well for Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus and many more. We also recommend for sports and news websites.

Surfshark is reliable, well-supported software. Although it hasn’t been around as long as some of the bigger companies, it has grown fast and offers a secure service. It uses AES-256 bit military-grade encryption, MultiHop, an internet kill switch and it also has a malware blocker.

Surfshark’s biggest advantage is that it gives unlimited simultaneous connections. This is beneficial for families and businesses because they don’t have to spend a lot of money to get secure internet connections.

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NordVPN

NordVPN ranks up there with Surfshark for the best VPN for Cuba. The company has servers in several South and Central American cities. It has thousands of servers across the world and you can use it to connect to any website.

The company employs the best security protocols in the industry. You get AES-256 bit encryption, an internet kill switch. You also get DNS leak protection as well as CyberSec which protects your devices from malware.

It also has a strict no-logs policy, so you never have to worry about your details falling into the wrong hands.

You can use NordVPN to bypass geoblocks and connect to streaming sites, news and sports websites, human rights websites and anything else online.

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VyprVPN

We like VyprVPN because it is fast and secure and has great unblocking capabilities. Users often overlook this service because the company is still rather new and its server network is small.

This VPN is made unique by the fact that its servers are owned and managed by the company. Not only does this reassure users about security, but it also means that they experience very little downtime, and it is usually resolved in minutes.

The company uses AES-256 bit encryption as well as Chameleon Protocol to bypass geoblocks.

Users in Cuba can connect through servers in Costa Rica, San Salvador, Panama City, Bogota and Miami.

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ExpressVPN

For a long time, ExpressVPN was the gold standard of VPNs but it experienced challenges during the pandemic that affected speeds. It has since made a comeback and we can now include it in the list of best VPNs for Cuba.

This VPN has a vast server network and you can connect from almost any part of the world. The number of servers also allows for fast speeds. You can use it to stream, game, and do whatever else you’d like online.

ExpressVPN is secure, with AES-256 bit encryption. It has a kill switch and DNS leak protection to keep users safe at all times.

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FAQ

• Is it legal to use a VPN in Cuba?

VPNs are legal in Cuba so long as you’re using them for legitimate reasons. People use them to connect to Wi-Fi networks and VoIP services.

You don’t have to worry about someone finding out you’re using a VPN; they are designed to be incognito in the first place. Unless someone is looking at your physical device they cannot tell whether or not you’re using a VPN.

In a nutshell, so long as you’re using a reliable VPN you don’t have to worry about restricted sites; you can visit any website undetected.

• Should I use a VPN in Cuba?

Yes, you should, because it helps you gain access to sites that are blocked or restricted. The government restricts sites in order to control the flow of information. A VPN encrypts your traffic and allocates you a different IP address so it looks like you are a user in a different location.

Cuba also has limited entertainment, and if you want to stream from popular channels like Netflix you need a VPN.

A Cuba VPN is your best bet if you want to access the internet without restrictions.

• Should I use a free VPN in Cuba?

We generally don’t recommend free VPNs. Free VPNs are a draw for some because they promise the same service that you get with a paid VPN only without having to pay.

Beware of such services. Most free VPNs come with limitations that are impossible to get around. They slow down devices so much that they often aren’t worth it. They also come with data caps – you can only use so many gigabytes every 24 hours.

Free VPNs also collect and sell user details; that’s how they make their money.

Conclusion

Cuba is a great country with lots going for it, but freedom of information isn’t one of those things.

If you want to get online without restrictions you need the best VPN for Cuba. It is one that takes security seriously (should have AES-256 bit encryption), is fast and can connect several devices simultaneously.

It should allow you to get past geoblocks and access streaming platforms, news and sports websites.